This week!

Hey guys so its been a week since my last post because I have been reading The Vampire Academy series! I am on the sixth one Last Sacrifice and plan on devouring it this week so I can read something else and be able to review it. Hopefully I will put up some more posts soon. Happy Reading!

Review of The Devouring

The Devouring
by Simon Holt
Genre:YA Horror

Summary from Goodreads:

"When dark creeps in and eats the light,
Bury your fears on Sorry Night.
For in the winter's blackest hours,
Comes the feasting of the Vours, 
No one can see it, the life they stole,
Your body's here but not your soul..."

THE VOURS: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.

When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.

To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?

The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?

My Review:

Wow! For such a short book it sure was action packed! It was 153 pages of awesomeness and would really like to thank Nick for telling me to read it and review it on the blog. By the way Nick you were right there was a crazy demonic clown in it but I wasn't scared of it maybe I devoured my fear like Reggie did. 

I really enjoyed this book and didn't find it as scary as a ton of people had told me it would be. I mean the Vours were totally creepy and I plan on keeping a very watchful and protective eye on my little brother who reminds me a lot of Reggie's little brother Henry.  But all in all I thought it was a very interesting and a breath of fresh air to a world of YA that now mostly consists of Paranormal Romances and I definitely plan on continuing with the series and finishing it.

I also saw kind of a theme to the story, the story revealed to me that yes, fears are something that we all have to face but it is the way we handle them that matters most. You can't let something you are a afraid of control your life because you may miss out on something really great.

So, great book but pre-warn this book/series is not for the weak at heart! Happy Reading!

The Dark Divine

Title: The Dark Divine
Author: Bree Despain

Summary:

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry, glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boys' dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

My Thoughts:

I just finished this book a couple of hours ago, and WOW it was GOOD! The beginning of this book took a few chapters to really draw me in, but after that I was thoroughly intrigued. Once I was about half way in I literally could not put this book down, and when I had to so I could go to work or do something else I found myself thinking about the characters and how everything would pan out.

This novel was very descriptive, and definitely had an element of mysteriousness about it, which I really appreciated. The characters were also well developed as was the plot, although there are still lingering questions at the end of this book, but I suppose that is just to make you all the more anxious to pick up the next book, which is on sale now.

If you have not yet read this book, I highly recommend that you do!

-Kelsey

Prom & Prejudice

Title: Prom & Prejudice
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg

Summary:

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

My Thoughts:

Basically Prom & Prejudice is a loose, modern retelling of the classic novel Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, which is centered around Elizabeth Bennet, a talented pianist on scholarship at Longbourn Academy, and Will Darcy, a stuck up Pemberley student absorbed in the politics of social standing. 

Although I may be a bit biased considering I adore the original version of this book, I can easily say that I LOVED THIS BOOK!  The writing although a bit too simple at times for my taste, was enjoyable and the plot flowed smoothly, incorporating key scenes of the original novel with unexpected modern twists. That being said this was definitely a quick, rainy-day sort of read, so unless you have an e-reader device, you may want to hold off on picking up a copy until it goes to paperback. 

-Kelsey

On my wishlist

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. 


Strange Angels
Lili St. Crow
Genre: YA





Summary from Goodreads:
Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called “the touch.” (Comes in handy when you’re traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead—but still walking—and Dru knows she’s next. Even worse, she’s got two guys hungry for her affections, and they’re not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever—or whoever— is hunting her?

Slice of Cherry

Dia Reeves

Genre: YA Horrorish

Summary from Goodreads:

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

Forgive my Fins

Tera Lynn Childs

Genre: YA Paranormal

I love mermaids!

Summary from Goodreads:

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Finally Finished It! Review of Torment

Title: Torment
Authour: Lauren Kate
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Summary from Goodreads:
Hell on earth. That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students -Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. 

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous. What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else? The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.


My Review:
As you can see in the title it took me quiet a while to finish this book. I was off and off not really sure whether or not I wanted to continue reading the story. But knowing myself I knew I had to finish it because I never like to leave books unread especially if I bought them. I mean it wasn't that the book was not interesting or boring it was just that I kind of felt like I had already seen this storyline multiple times. It kind of reminded me of New Moon in a way....Daniel had to leave Luce like Edward had to leave Bella to protect her. Also while the male is gone from their lives they both find someone new always debating on whether or not they truly are meant to be with their love. Again this reveals to me how similar it was to me.  I loved Fallen and was hoping for some questions left at the end of the book to be answered but all I got was more questions and a ton of guessing. I hope that Passion can answer most of my questions and that it will be just as good as Fallen.


One more thing I would like to add this cover is beautiful and is kind of the reason I judge books by their covers. In my opinion the summary has to blow away on the back and the cover has to be gorgeous enough to send me into shock and awww. 

Unearthly

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand


Summary:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

My Thoughts:

Okay so I should begin by admitting that I am easily enticed by a pretty cover of a book or an interesting title. While browsing through my local book store last week I saw a display filled with pretty shiny purple books with a conflicted looking girl on the cover. Needless to say I became interested and had to further inspect. Even more exciting? On the cover there was a review from Richelle Mead, author of the Vampire Academy series! :D I was SOLD! 

Now, on to the book....

This book really surpassed my expectations, which were already pretty high to begin with(awesome cover, remember?), by taking a creative approach to the angel themed story that seems to have become very popular recently.

I will admit that this story took a few chapters in the beginning to really take off, but after that I was hooked.

Cynthia Hand's writing had me flipping page after page, trying to solve the mystery of Clara's purpose, which she as well as readers, get in pieces through visions she receives throughout the novel. The characters in this story are well rounded, and developed. And the plot blew me away! Not only was it interesting, but it also had me second guessing how it would end right up to the last few pages (something that doesn't happen too often for me).

Definitely go pick up a copy!

-Kelsey 

Hey, I'm Kelsey!

Okay, so let me start by saying that I am no good at writing about myself, so if I start to ramble, please bear with me.

My name is Kelsey ( as you can tell by the post title), I am Katie's friend, and an avid reader, which is why she asked me to contribute to the blog. Books, movies, and music are much the same to me in the way that I have so many favorites that I have a hard time keeping track or narrowing it down to what I like best, but for the sake of introducing myself, I will try.

Taylor Swift is one of my absolute favorites, but I also love Jesse Lee, Miranda Lambert and A Rocket to the Moon. My favorite song changes on a daily basis. Glee, Pretty Little Liars, Community, and Vampire Diaries take up majority of my DVR's space. I'm a firm believer that book beats movie (in most cases anyways).  I ADORE Vampire Academy ( I will probably have to make a separate post on this series).

Andddd I guess that would be it for now. (:

New Header!

Isn't my new header awesome?? Alexa created it for me and I think she did a terrific job! Thanks Alexa again it really adds something to my blog!

In my Mailbox

In my mailbox was created by Kristi at the Story Siren

This week I bought on my Nook

Dead Girls are Easy by Terri Garey

My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking

Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow

Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

Wyoming Brides by Debbie Maccomber
















This is all I got in my mailbox this week! I would really like to know what you got, so tell me what did you get in your mailbox?

Something Exciting!!!

 Ok so I have some great news to tell y'all! My best friend Kelsey(who I have mentioned a few times) is now going to co-operate this blog with me! She is a book/movie/music-fanatic like I am and will be a great contribution to this blog! Her first post will probably be her introducing herself to y'all and probably consist of some of her favorite things! So when she does post make sure to make her feel welcomed because I know y'all will love her as much as I do! 

Radiance

Book: Radiance
Author: Alyson Noel

Summary: After crossing the bridge into the afterlife, a place called Here where the time is always Now, Riley's existence continues in much the same way as when she was alive until she is given the job of Soul Catcher and, together with her teacher Bodhi, returns to earth for her first assignment, a ghost called the Radiant Boy who has been haunting an English castle for centuries and resisted all previous attempts to get him across the the bridge.

Review: Radiance was definitely a quick read and its pretty short but it was a 178 page book filled with awesomeness. I really loved having a story about Riley because she reminds me so much of my little sister. She is filled with spunk and character which my sister exhibits a lot. I think at first she was really scared with the whole idea of Here but she soon started to feel really comfortable and by the end of the book comes to calling it home. I would recommend this book to anyone 12 yrs and up and if I was the reader I would probably read Evermore first so that you see Riley's experience before she decided to cross over.

Vampire Academy

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: YA
Review:
  I have to admit this book made me a little bit stand-offish because the whole vampire thing. Ever since Twilight I have been trying to avoid them but my friend Kelsey fell in love with this series and I was like what the heck I guess I will try it. And I guess you could say I fell in love with it too. I loved how the book wasn't just about vampires but that it was through the eyes of a young Dhampir girl. And boy was Rose a fun character to interact with. She is strong, sexy, and funny everything in my mind a female heroine should be. She may give off these really tough girl vibes but in all reality she is just as sweet and caring as the next girl. The bond between herself and her best friend Lissa I think keeps her this way. I can't wait to get my hands on the next books in the series! I would definitely tell anyone who hates the vamps due to Twilight to give them a chance in Vampire Academy because its definitely worth it. Happy Reading!!!

Barnes and Noble Synopsis:

St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school—it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's—the very place where they're most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Thanks Alexa!!!

Ok so I just got this fabulous opportunity from my friend Alexa over at Pages of Forbidden Love!! Her 6 month anniversary of her blog is coming up and she is picking a few bloggers to guest post on her blog and I get to be one of those bloggers. Her anniversary is the 15th of February and she will be having multiple guest posts leading up to that and on the 15th she will so a video blog of all her favorite books! I am really excited and hope y'all check out the excitement going on over there! I will leave a link at the bottom so you can check out her wonderful blog.:)

Pages of Forbidden Love 

Teaser Tuesday!!

Credit to FallenVamp at Hypnotically Entranced....thanks for the awesome idea:)

Hey guys! It feels like it has been forever since my last post! I guess I have been extremely busy with school and other stuff. Well I got this awesome post idea from FallenVamp but Teaser Tuesday was actually created by MizB at Should Be Reading. Its a fun way for people to get a small nibble of a part of a book. Today the book is Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. My friend Kelsey is in love with this series and insisted that I read it and so far I am really enjoying it!

Teaser:
"I would have given anything to be able to read his mind right then.  Ever since that night in the lounge, I'd noticed him watching me with this same, studious expression."